apostolic exertions excited in the mind of the youthful Martyn a strong desire to imitate his example. At length, after serious consideration of the subject in all its bearings, and earnest prayer to the Almighty for his direction, he offered himself as a Missionary to the Church Missionary Society, then called the Society for Missions to Africa and the East. His feelings at this important crisis in his history may be drawn from the following letter, addressed at the time to his youngest sister: pel conveyed in the admonition of a sister, was grating | and labours of David Brainerd, whose ardent piety and to my ears." The first result of her tender exhortations and earnest endeavours was very discouraging; a violent conflict took place in her brother's mind, between his conviction of the truth of what she urged and his love of the world; and for the present, the latter prevailed: yet sisters, similarly circumstanced, may learn from this case not merely their duty, but from the final result, the success they may anticipate from the faithful discharge of it." I think," he observes, when afterwards reviewing this period with a spirit truly broken and contrite, "I do not remember a time in which the wickedness of my heart rose to a greater height, than during my stay at home. The consummate selfishness and exquisite irritability of my mind were displayed in rage, malice, and envy, in pride and vain glory, and contempt of all; in the harshest language to my sister, and even to my father, if he happened to differ from my mind and will; O what an example of patience and mildness was he! I love to think of his excellent qualities, and it is frequently the anguish of my heart, that I ever could be base and wicked enough to pain him by the slightest neglect. O my God and Father, why is not my heart doubly agonized at the remembrance of all my great transgressions against Thee ever since I have known Thee as such! I left my sister and father in October, and him I saw no more. I promised my sister that I would read the Bible for myself, but on being settled at college, Newton engaged all my thoughts.' Henry's residence at College for more than two years, was productive of much improvement in scientific knowledge, but he still remained ignorant of those truths which are infinitely superior in value to all the learning of the schools. At length, however, in the providence of God, his mind became deeply impressed with a sense of the importance of Religion. The event which seems to have been instrumental in arousing him from his melancholy indifference on this vitally important subject, was his father's death. It was very pleasing to his sister to perceive from his letters, that a decided change had taken place in his views and feelings in regard to divine things. He still continued to exert himself with as much ardour as ever in his studies at college, but the spirit from which he acted was essentially different. He no longer counted secular knowledge the only, or the chief object of pursuit; and though at the early age of twenty, he succeeded in carrying off the highest academical honours, his reflection on the occasion shews the moderate view which he took of all earthly blessings: "I obtained my highest wishes," he said, "but was surprised to find I had grasped a shadow." And yet, with such subdued feelings, he did not relax in his perseverance to attain an acquaintance with the most important departments of human learning; nay, so great was his diligence, that by his fellowstudents he was designated "the man who had not lost an hour." Christians have the strongest of all motives to be industrious; time acquires with them a peculiar value, as hurrying them onward to that solemn hour when 66 we must each one of us give an account of himself to God." even After having made a short visit to his friends in Cornwall, Henry returned again to Cambridge, where he studied so assiduously, that in a short sime he obtained a fellowship in St John's College. Shortly before this he had become personally acquainted with the Rev. Mr Simeon, to whose pious and affectionate instructions he, in common with multitudes, felt that he owed much. It was in consequence of a remark made by this honoured servant of Christ, in reference to the benefit which had accrued from the labours of Dr Carey in India, that Martyn was first led to think of dedicating himself to the Missionary cause. This resolution was soon after confirmed by reading the life "I received your letter yesterday, and thank God for the concern you manifest for my spiritual welfare. O that we may love each other more and more in the Lord! The passages you bring from the Word of God were appropriate to my case, particularly those from the first Epistle of St Peter, and that to the Ephesians, though I do not seem to have given you a right view of my state. The dejection I sometimes labour under seems not to arise from doubts of my acceptance with God, though it tends to produce them; nor from desponding views of my own backwardness in the divine life for I am more prone to self-dependence and conceit, but from the prospect of the difficulties I have to encounter in the whole of my future life. The thought that I must be unceasingly employed in the same kind of work amongst poor ignorant people, is what my proud spirit revolts at. To be obliged to submit to a thousand uncomfortable things that must happen to me, whether as a minister or a missionary, is what the flesh cannot endure. At these times I feel neither love to God nor man; and, in proportion as these graces of the Spirit languish, my besetting sins-pride, and discontent, and unwillingness for every duty, make me miserable. You will best enter into my views by considering those texts which serve to recal me to a right aspect of things. have not that coldness in prayer you would expect, but generally find myself strengthened in faith and humility and love after it; but the impression is so short. I am at this time enabled to give myself, body, soul, and spirit, to God, and perceive it to be my most reasonable service. How it may be when the trial comes, I know not, yet I will trust and not be afraid. In order to do his will cheerfully, I want love for the souls of men to suffer it-I want humility-let these be the subjects of your supplications for me. I am thankful to God that you are so free from anxiety and care: we cannot but with praise acknowledge his goodness. What does it signify whether we be rich or poor, if we are sons of God? How unconscious are they of their real greatness, and will be so till they find themselves in glory! When we contemplate our everlasting inheritance, it seems too good to be true; yet it is no more than is due to the blood of God manifest in the flesh." In the following year, Mr Martyn received ordination to the office of the holy ministry, and commenced the exercise of his pastoral functions as curate of Mr Simeon in the church of the Holy Trinity in Cambridge, undertaking likewise the charge of the parish of Solworth, a small village at no great distance from the University. At this place, in the very outset of his ministry, an incident occurred which seems to have made a deep impres sion upon his mind :-" An old man, who had been one of his auditors, walked by the side of his horse for a considerable time, warning him to reflect, that if any souls perished through his neglect, their blood would be required at his hand. He exhorted him to shew his hearers that they were perishing sinners; to be much engaged in secret prayer; and to labour after an entire departure from himself to Christ. From what he said on the last head,' observes Mr Martyn, it was clear that I had but little experience; but I lifted my heart afterwards to the Lord, that I might be fully instructed in righteousness.' So meekly and thankfully did this young minister listen to the affectionate counsel of an old disciple." In the early part of the year 1804, Mr Martyn's prospects of going abroad as a missionary were apparently in danger of being frustrated, in consequence of the unexpected loss of his little patrimony. This was to his mind the more distressing, as it rendered his younger sister entirely dependant upon him; and he could not bear the thought of leaving her in actual distress when he himself, by remaining in England, might alleviate or remove it. In these circumstances, he resolved to consult some of his friends, and set out for that purpose to London. Exertions were in consequence made to procure for him a chaplainship to the East India Company, but in vain, and he returned to resume his ministerial labours at Cambridge, resigned to the will of God, and ambitious only to discharge present duty with fidelity, casting all his care" upon the Lord, knowing well that "He cared for him." 66 A view of his indefatigable labours at this time may be given in the words of his biographer: - "In the interval which passed between the months of February and June, he was found earnestly labouring in the service of his divine Master. He preached animating and awakening discourses: he excited societies of private Christians to watch, quit themselves as men, and be strong: he visited many of the poor, the afflicted, and the dying he warned numbers of the careless and profligate, in a word, he did the work of an Evangelist. Often did he redeem time from study, from recreation, and from the intercourse of friends, that, like his Redeemer, he might enter the abodes of misery, either to arouse the unthinking slumberer, or to administer consolation to the dejected penitent. Many an hour did he pass in an hospital or an alms-house; and often, after a day of labour and fatigue, when wearied almost to an extremity of endurance, he would read and pray with the servant who had the care of his rooms, thus making it his meat and drink, his rest as well as his labour, to do the will of his heavenly Father, in conformity to the example of Christ : His care was fixed To fill his odorous lamp with deeds of light, In a short time, the prospect seemed to open up to him of obtaining what had been the anxious wish of his friends, a chaplainship in the service of the East India Company. Fully encouraged to expect that he would not in this case be disappointed, he set out for Cornwall on a visit to his friends. While there, he frequently preached, and both his sisters heard him, the youngest with delight, and the eldest with every appearance of being seriously impressed. "I found," said he, referring to the latter," that she had been deeply affected, and from her conversation I received great satisfaction. In the evening I walked by the water-side till late, having my heart full of praise to God for having given me such hopes of my sisters." At length, after having with But on stood the most earnest entreaties of his friends to remain in England, he began to make preparations for finally leaving his native shore. To one possessed of such tender sensibilities as Henry Martyn, it was a trial of extreme severity to bid a long, and, in all probability, a last farewell to his country and his friends. this, as indeed on every former occasion in his history, he felt that the principles and motives of Christianity are sufficient to triumph over the strongest feelings and the tenderest affections of the human heart. Some months, however, elapsed between the last visit which he paid to his friends and his final departure from England. This intervening period he spent in his ministerial labours at Cambridge. At length the hour arrived when he was summoned to embark for India. His feelings on this occasion he thus describes in a letter to his favourite sister, who could so well sympathize with him in all his spiritual anxieties: "I rejoice to say, that I never had so clear a convic tion of my call as at present, as far as respects the inward impression. Never did I see so much the exceeding excellency and glory and sweetness of the work, nor had so much the favourable testimony of my own conscience, nor perceived so plainly the smile of God. I am constrained to say, what am I, or what is my father's house, that I should be made willing, what am I that I should be so happy, so honoured?" In his Journal, likewise, he expresses himself to the same effect: "I felt more persuaded of my call than ever; there was scarcely the shadow of a doubt left: rejoice, O my soul, thou shalt be the servant of God in this life and in the next, for all the boundless ages of eternity. The circumstances attendant on his departure are thus stated by his biographer:. "On the 8th of July, Mr Martyn left London for Portsmouth; and such was the acuteness of his feelings during this journey, that he fainted, and fell into a convulsion fit at the inn where he slept on the road, a painful intimation to those friends who were with him of the poignancy of that grief which he endeavoured as much as possible to repress and conceal. The next morning, however, he was sufficiently recovered to proceed, and was much refreshed in his spirits at the sight of many of his brethren at Portsmouth, who had come, (several from a considerable distance,) that they might affectionately accompany him to the ship. Among these was one whose presence afforded him an unexpected happiness. To be obliged to give up all hopes of your accompanying me to Portsmouth,' he had written a short time before to Mr Simeon, is a greater disappointment than I can well describe. Having been led to expect it, I seem to experience a painful privation. However, you will not now have the pain of observing in your brother a conversation and spirit unsuitable to the important work on which he is going. Yet this I believe, that though I have little affection towards heavenly things, I have less towards every thing earthly.' From Mr Simeon he learnt, to his exceeding comfort, that his flock at Cambridge intended on the day of his departure, as far as it could be ascertained, to give themselves up to fasting and prayer; and at his hands he received, with peculiar gratification, a silver compass, sent by them as a memorial of their unfeigned affection." a And in setting sail, he thus describes his feelings in letter to Mr Simeon :-" It was a very painful moment to me when I awoke in the morning after you left us, and found the fleet actually sailing down the Channel. Though it was what I had anxiously been looking forward to so long, yet the consideration of being parted for ever from my friends almost overcame me. My feelings were those of a man who should suddenly be told, that every friend he had in the world was dead. It was only by prayer for them that I could be comforted; and this was indeed a refreshment to my soul, because, by meeting them at the throne of grace, I seemed again to be in their society." Unexpectedly, the vessel was forced to put back to Falmouth, where Mr Martyn had an opportunity of spending three weeks with his friends, after which he again embarked, and in a short time the shores of England disappeared from his view. During the voyage, he spent his time partly in study, and partly in labouring to promote the spiritual interests both of the sailors and of the soldiers on board ship. On reaching the Cape, the following beautiful passage occurs in his Journal:. "January 30.-Rose at five, and began to ascend Table Mountain at six with S * and M * went on chiefly alone. I thought of the Christian lifewhat uphill work it is and yet there are streams flowing down from the top, just as there was water coming down by the Kloof, by which we ascended. Towards the top it was very steep, but the hope of being soon at the summit encouraged me to ascend very lightly. As the Kloof opened, a beautiful flame-coloured flower appeared in a little green hollow, waving in the breeze. It seemed to be an emblem of the beauty and peacefulness of heaven, as it shall open upon the weary soul when its journey is finished, and the struggles of the death-bed are over. We walked up and down the whole length, which might be between two and three miles, and one might be said to look round the world from this promontory. I felt a solemn awe at the grand prospect, from which there was neither noise nor small objects to draw off my attention. I reflected, especially when looking at the immense expanse of sea on the East, which was to carry me to India, on the certainty that the name of Christ should at some period resound from shore to shore. I felt commanded to wait in silence, and see how God would bring his promises to pass. We began to descend at half-past two. Whilst sitting to rest myself towards night, I began to reflect with death-like despondency on my friendless condition. Not that I wanted any of the comforts of life, but I wanted those kind friends who loved me, and in whose company I used to find such delights after my fatigues. And then, remembering that I should never see them more, I felt one of those keen pangs of misery that occasionally shoot across my breast. It seemed like a dream that I had actually undergone banishment from them for life; or rather like a dream that I had ever hoped to share the enjoyments of social life. But, at this time, I solemnly renewed my self-dedication to God, praying that for his service I might receive grace to spend my days in continued suffering, and separation from all I held most dear in this life-for ever. Amen.How vain and transitory are those pleasures which the worldliness of my heart will ever be magnifying into real good! The rest of the evening I felt weaned from the world and all its concerns, with somewhat of a melancholy tranquillity." At length, after a voyage of nine months from the date of his leaving Portsmouth, Mr Martyn's eyes were gratified with a sight of India. This was to be the scene of his labours; and the very extent of the field, and the apparent hopelessness of the enterprise, seem to have affected his mind almost immediately on landing. "What surprises me,' says he, "is the change of views I have here from what I had in England. There my heart expanded with hope and joy at the prospect of the speedy conversion of the Heathen, but here the sight of the apparent impossibility requires a strong faith to support me." On arriving at Calcutta, Mr Martyn was hospitably received into the house of the Rev. David Brown, whose devoted piety and Christian worth were peculiarly remarkable; and not long after he had taken up his residence there, he was seized with a severe attack of fever, which for some time was rather alarming. His feelings are thus described by his own pen:-"I could derive no comfort from reflecting on my past life. Indeed, exactly in proportion as I looked for evidences of grace, I lost that brokenness of spirit I wished to retain, and could not lie with simplicity at the foot of the cross. I really thought that I was departing this life. I began to pray as on the verge of eternity; and the Lord was pleased to break my hard heart. I lay in tears interceding for the unfortunate natives of this country, thinking with myself that the most despicable soodar of India was of as much value in the sight of God as the king of Great Britain." During his residence at Aldeen with Mr Brown, Mr Martyn employed himself chiefly in acquiring the Hindoostanee, besides preaching occasionally to his countrymen in Calcutta. The purity of his doctrines, as night have been expected, proved offensive to many; but, in spite of all opposition, this devoted messenger of Christ was determined to know nothing in his public ministrations save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. On the 18th of September, Mr Martyn received his appointment to Dinapore. The account of his departure from his dear Christian friends at Calcutta, is thus beautifully given by his biographer : "A few days before he left Aldeen, several of Mr Martyn's friends came together to his pagoda, in order that they might unite with him in imploring a blessing on his intended labours. Such a meeting could not fail of being highly interesting; and it was not the less so from a recollection of the place in which they were assembled, a Christian congregation in a building which once had been an idol temple, seemed to supply a consolatory pledge, as well as a significant emblem of what all earnestly prayed for, and confidently anticipated in poor idolatrous India. My soul,' said Mr Martyn, never yet had such divine enjoyment. I felt a desire to break from the body and join the high praises of the saints above. May I go in the strength of this many days,'-Amen. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.' sweet to walk with Jesus-to love him-and to die for him! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.' And again, the next day he says How The blessed God has again visited my soul in his power, and all that was within me blessed his holy name. I found my heaven begun on earth. No work so sweet as that of praying, and living wholly to the service of God.' "On the 15th October, after taking leave of the Church at Calcutta in a farewell discourse, and of the family at Aldeen in an exposition at morning worship, Mr Martyn entered his budgerow, which was to convey him to Dinapore, and sailed up the Ganges, accompanied by his brethren, Mr Brown, Mr Corrie, and Mr Parsons. Mr Marshman, seeing them pass by the Mission House, could not resist joining the party; and after going a little way, left them with prayer. At night, Mr Martyn prayed with his brethren in the vessel; and the next day they devoted the whole morning to religious exercises. How sweet is prayer,' said he, 'to my soul at this time. I seem as if I could never be tired, not only of spiritual joys, but of spiritual employments, since these are now the same.' "The day after, the weather becoming tempestuous, his brethren sorrowfully and reluctantly left him ** prosecute his voyage alone. Before they parted ever, they spent the whole morning (to use hi words) in a divine ordinance, in which each o read a portion of Scripture, and all of them sa prayed. Mr Brown's passage, chosen from t of Joshua, was very suitable,' said Mr Martyn,— I not sent thee;' Let this be an answer to my O my Lord, that I am in thy work; and that fore I shall not go forth at my own charges, ot any enemies but thine. It was a very affecting s to me, but in prayer I was far from a state of se ness and affection.' At the commencement of his labours at Dina Mr Martyn met with considerable opposition; but was the mild and affectionate, yet firm adherenc the truth, by which his whole conduct was chara ized, that he soon succeeded in gaining the esteem the confidence of those who waited upon his mini In prosecuting his work as a Missionary, he now menced the study of the Sanscrit, besides dedicati considerable time every day to a translation of the rables into Hindoostanee, along with a commentary u them. Both among Europeans and natives, he was defatigable in preaching the Gospel, and endeavou to commend the truth to every man's conscience. In the superintendence of the schools which he established, in his Sabbath duties, and in his week-day A budgerow is a travelling boat, constructed like a pleasure barge. In the early part of the year 1809, Mr Martyn was removed from his station at Dinapore to Cawnpore, where his duties varied little from those to which he had already been accustomed. Soon after his arrival at his new station, intelligence reached him from Europe, first of the dangerous illness, then of the death of that sister who had taken so deep an interest in his spiritual welfare. This threw a deep gloom, for a time, over Mr Martyn's mind, but still he persevered in labouring for souls, as one who must give an account. He now commenced his public ministrations among the heathen, preaching the Gospel to a crowd of mendicants who assembled on a stated day before his house, for the purpose of receiving alms. This motley congregation of beggars, of all descriptions, increased to the amount of even eight hundred, to whom an opportunity was thus afforded Mr Martyn of preaching the glad tidings of salvation. In the midst of these exertions Mr Martyn's health began to fail. An attack of pain in the chest, accompanied with fever and debility, excited considerable alarm in the minds of his friends. But it was with extreme difficulty that he was prevailed upon to spare himself; providentially, however, he obtained no small assistance and relief by the arrival of his dear friend, Mr Corrie, who happened to stop at Cawnpore on his way to Agra. Notwithstanding this seasonable aid, Mr Martyn's health became so precarious that he was recommended either to try the effect of a sea voyage, or to return to England for a short time. The latter alternative he at last, though with reluctance, resolved to adopt. Still anxious, however, to carry forward his missionary work, he decided upon going into Arabia and Persia, for the purpose of having the Persian and Arabic translations of the New Testament revised and corAt Shiraz, rected by some of the most learned men. in Persia, where he resided for some time, he excited great interest by the success with which he conducted discussions with the Moollahs and the Soofie doctors. After a stay of ten months he completed the Persian New Testament, and also the version of the Psalms in Persian," a sweet employment," to use his own words, "and which caused six weary moons that waxed and waned since its commencement, to pass unnoticed." labours, Mr Martyn was so incessantly occupied, that | complishing his great work,-the version of the New his health began to yield. Still he felt unwilling to reTestament in Hindoostanee. lax in his exertions. He devoted much of his time to the translation of the Scriptures into Hindoostanee and Persian, an employment which seems to have afforded him peculiar delight. "The time fled imperceptibly," he observes," while so delightfully engaged in the translations; the days seemed to have passed like a moment. Blessed be God for some improvement in the languages! May every thing be for edification in the Church! What do I not owe to the Lord, for permitting me to take part in a translation of his Word; never did I see such wonder, and wisdom, and love, in that blessed book, as since I have been obliged to study every expression; and it is a delightful reflection, that death cannot deprive us of the pleasure of studying its mysteries." While thus engaged, however, in his Master's work, it pleased Him with whom all wisdom dwells, to visit him with a severe trial, in the death of his eldest sister, the intelligence of which affected him with the most pungent sorrow. "O my heart, my heart," he exclaimed," is it, can it be true, that she has been lying so many months in the cold grave! Would that I could always remember it, or always forget it; but to think for a moment of other things, and then to feel the remembrance of it coming, as if for the first time, rends my heart asunder. When I look round upon the creation, and think that her eyes see it not, but have closed upon it for ever,—that I lie down in my bed, but that she has lain down in her grave,-Oh! is it possible! I wonder to find myself still in life;-that the same tie which united us in life, has not brought death at the same moment to both. O great and gracious God! what should I do without Thee! But now thou art manifesting thyself as the God of all consolation to my soul; never was I so near thee; I stand on the brink, and long to take my flight. There is not a thing in the world for which I could wish to live, except the hope that it may please God to appoint me some work. And how shall my soul ever be thankful enough to thee, O thou most incomprehensibly glorious Saviour, Jesus! O what hast thou done to alleviate the sorrows of life! and how great has been the mercy of God towards my family, in saving us all! How dreadful would be the separation of relations in death, were it not for Jesus!" Acutely as Mr Martyn suffered under this afflicting dispensation, he omitted the prosecution of his various duties for only one day, devoting himself in season, and out of season, to the work which his Master had assigned him. It was not so much by preaching, in the first instance, that he hoped to reach the hearts of the natives, but by the institution of schools, and the distribution of the Scriptures. Anxious to try the effect of this mode of carrying on his missionary work, he resisted the earnest solicitations of his friends at Calcutta, who were urgent with him to accept the Mission Church at the Presidency. Mr Martyn preferred the retirement of Dinapore, with the hope of benefiting the natives, and, therefore, though the application was made to him through his much esteemed friend, Mr Brown, he counted it his duty to decline the offer. In a short time, however, his present situation was rendered much less agreeable, by the removal of the only family with whom he had lived on terms of Christian intimacy, and to whom he had been the instrument of first imparting serious impressions. And another circumstance which distressed his mind not a little, was the temporary suspension of public worship on the Sabbath, in consequence of the state of the weather. Application had been made to the governor-general for the erection of a church, and meanwhile Mr Martyn opened his own It Having finished the translation, which was the object of his journey, he set out from Shiraz, with the design of laying the work before the king of Persia; but, finding that from some informality, he could not obtain an audience, he proceeded to Tebriz, where the British minister resided, and from whom he expected to receive the necessary introduction to the king. After having completed this tedious journey, Mr Martyn was attacked with a severe fever, which compelled him to give up all idea of presenting the New Testament in person. was now becoming every day more evident that a longer residence in the East would prove speedily fatal to our missionary; and, accordingly, ten days after his recovery from the fever, he set out on his journey homewards. His design was to reach England by way of Constantinople; and accompanied by a Tartar guide, whose inhuman barbarity seems to have caused Mr Martyn's death, he had reached no farther than Tocat, when, on the 16th October 1812, he breathed his last. The special circumstances of his death are unknown, but one thing is certain, that, whatever these circumstances were, he has reaped a rich reward of all his labours, toils, and privations in the cause of the Redeemer. "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." FLEMISH MARTYRS IN 1556. house as a place of worship. No exertions were spared In the reign of Charles V. of Spain, who was monarch of to fulfil, as an hireling, his day; "the early morning, as well as the closing evening, found him engaged in his delightful labours." At length he succeeded in ac the Netherlands also, the Gospel spread to a great extent. The city of Lille received it with especial favour, in spite of the bloody edicts made against heretics. The Reformed ministers preached in private houses, in woods, in caves, and for a time the truth mightily prevailed. But when the Church at Lille had increased and was flourishing, Satan stirred up his instruments. One evening, in 1556, the provost of the town, with all his resolved to go forth and search every house, assessors, to see that there were no assemblies held. This was on a Saturday; and the first house which they assailed was that of a respected citizen, Robert Oguier. They instantly seized him and his son, Baudichon, and led them to prison, because they were found in the act of instructing the children and servants in the fear of God and the knowledge of his Word. A few days after, these two excellent men, father and son, were tried before the magistrates. They boldly confessed the Reformed faith, and were put to the torture, in order to extort the names of all who frequented their meetings; but they firmly refused to name any one. They were then condemned to die. When the day of execution arrived, they separated the son from the father. On this, the son, as he left the prison, said, "I beseech you support my poor father, and do not trouble him; he is an aged man, and very feeble; do not try to hinder him from receiving the crown of martyrdom." One of the Franciscans hereupon broke out, "Away with you, wretch! it is all your fault that your father is now ruined." And then turning to the executioner, said, "Go, do your office, for we are losing our pains; they are possessed by the devil, and it is impossible to gain them over." Baudichon was undressed in a chamber, and as they put the bag of powder on his breast, one present said to him, "Were you my own brother, I should sell all I had in order to get fagots to burn you: you are too well treated." The martyr replied, "I thank you, my friend; may the Lord shew you mercy." Meanwhile, those around the old man were trying to persuade him to take the crucifix, at least, in his hands, that the people might not be provoked, and they tied an image of wood between his hands; but his son, seeing what was done, hastily snatched it away, and threw it down, saying, none be offended because we will not have a Christ of wood; for we carry Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, within us in our hearts; and we have the words of his Holy Scriptures in the bottom of our hearts." "Let They would not permit them to make any confession of their faith; but when the son was bound to the stake, he began to sing Psalm xvii., on which a monk cried aloud, "Listen to the wicked errors which they teach to the people !". In binding the father, the executioner struck him on the foot with a blow of the hammer. The old man asked, "My friend, you have wounded me; why do you use me so inhumanly ?" "Ah," cried out one of the monks, "they wish to have the name of martyrs, and if we just touch them, they roar out as if murdered," The son of the old man calmly replied, that if they feared death and its torments, they should not have come thither; and added " O God, our everlasting Father, accept this sacrifice of our bodies for the sake of thy Son." One of the priests vociferated, "You lie; God is not your father; you have the devil for your father." The martyr made no reply to this insult, but, lifting his eyes to heaven, and speaking to his aged father, said, "O father, look up; I see the heavens open, and thousand thousands of angels around us, reLet us be glad, joicing at our confession before men. "Hell is open, for the glory of God is revealed "cried one of the monks, devils are here waiting for your souls!" Just at this moment, one from the crowd cried aloud, "Courage, Oguier, endure to the end; your cause is the truth; I am one of yours," and then plunged into the multitude, and escaped undiscovered. " and thousand thousands of Fire was put to the wood; and the last words heard from the martyrs was the son encouraging his father as the fire burnt their feet: "Be of good comfort, father! but a moment more, father, and we are in the everlasting mansions!-Jesus Christ, we commend our spirits to Thee." DISCOURSE. BY THE REV. ROBERT MENZIES, "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be," &c.-MAT. xxiv. 27-31. IT is unnecessary to enter minutely into the critical arguments by which it has been clearly demonstrated, that these verses refer solely and exclusively to the future advent of our Saviour. Such a discussion, even if it could be rendered generally interesting, and embraced within the narrow limits of a discourse, might not, perhaps, be greatly conducive to edification; suffice it merely to say, that the opinion of those who contend that our blessed Saviour continues here to prosecute the subject of the preceding context, and fills up, with some additional touches, the picture he had been drawing of the destruction about to overwhelm the state and capital of the Jews, can only be maintained at the expense of doing great and unwarrantable violence to the language; besides, it is not justified, as is erroneously supposed, by any necessity. What has proved the stumbling-block of the critics, is the word "immediately" at the commencement of the twenty-ninth verse, which seemed to connect in close union, with respect to time, the new train of circumstances which the Saviour proceeds to foretell, beginning with the darkening of the sun and moon, with those foretold by him already, and here referred to as the tribulation of those days. But there is the best reason for supposing, that this word "immediately" is an error, which the Greek interpreter has introduced into the text by mistranslating the original word used by the evangelist, who wrote his Gospel in the Syro-Chaldaic. Instead of "immediately" there ought to stand "suddenly," and if, accordingly, we substitute the one for the other, it will be seen, that there is no necessity for supposing the new train of circumstances to be immediately connected with the former. They are, indeed, predicted as about to take place suddenly; and also, subsequently to the tribulations of Jerusalem, but whether they are to follow in close or remote succession is left altogether untold. |